If It’s Missing… Get Rid of It

I’m sure you read that title and thought, “Wait what? If it’s missing then how can I get rid of it?”. The answer is in the “…”. If it’s a puzzle missing a few pieces, get rid of it. If it’s a game missing pieces, get rid of it. If something is incomplete and you don’t use it BECAUSE it’s incomplete, why are you hanging on to it? I realize there are heirlooms and other things passed down that you may want to hold on to, which is fine and totally understandable. But if it’s a game or puzzle and it’s missing any part of it, clear it out of that space!

Several years ago my parents and I went through a period of time where we did a LOT of puzzles (rocking out to Les Mis and Phantom of the Opera because we’re super cool) and, as all puzzle aficionados know, when you finally finish a puzzle and discover pieces are missing… In that moment there’s nothing worse. The elation you should have felt is gone because all you can see are the empty spots scattered around the puzzle. And I’m not being dramatic. Be honest, if you could choose between a puzzle that was complete or one that had “missing 3 pieces” written on the box, wouldn’t you go for the complete puzzle?! Yes! Of course you would! So get rid of the incomplete one!

I have 7 nieces and nephews (and another one is on the way this month!) and if one of their games is missing pieces it’s not as much fun to play (again, personal experience talking here). If you have children and can relate, then get rid of the game(s)! If you don’t have children and can relate, then get rid of the game(s)! If it’s one the kids (or you) love I’m sure you can find it again in a store or online. Or you can hit up a much loved family member and they can search for a replacement, but there’s no reason to keep the incomplete game.

And don’t feel guilty about getting rid of either of these items! Wouldn’t you rather see games and puzzles in your cupboard or closet that you actually want to use instead of a bunch of boxes that you never take out anymore? Yes. The answer is yes. Every time.

Do you agree with this post? Or do you like to hold on to favorite games and puzzles even if they’re missing pieces? Let me know in the comments below!